The project, which is part of a broader plan to develop three new shafts in the Lower Silesian Copper Basin, is expected to create thousands of jobs and provide a boost to the local economy.
Tusk described copper as a "strategic resource," noting its importance not only for economic growth but also for Poland’s geopolitical and energy security.
"Copper is an absolutely strategic raw material. Our security will depend on its extraction," Tusk said in a social media video from the site, highlighting its growing importance for energy and technology.
Tusk noted that offshore wind farms, a key element of Poland’s future energy supply, require nearly five tonnes of copper per turbine.
The metal is also crucial for the automotive sector, with a conventional car using around 30 kg of copper, while an electric vehicle requires over 80 kg, he said.
The KGHM group, Europe’s largest copper producer and one of the world’s top ten, currently operates 28 shafts in Poland.
The new Retków shaft, along with GG-2 "Odra", will be used for material transport, while Gaworzyce is designated for ventilation.
The full project is expected to take more than a decade and cost at least PLN 9 billion (EUR 2.13 billion).
KGHM CEO Andrzej Szydło acknowledged the complexity and cost of building shafts that reach over a kilometre underground, citing challenging geological and hydrogeological conditions.
"This is a very large investment, but it is crucial for KGHM to at least maintain – and ideally increase – production from our own resources," Szydło said.
Tusk also stressed that the government aims to reduce the mining tax on copper and silver, a move expected to provide companies with additional revenue of up to PLN 750 million (EUR 177 million) annually from 2027 onwards.
Poland holds Europe’s largest copper deposits and is a leading global producer.
KGHM accounts for nearly half of the European Union’s mined copper output, making the metal a key strategic asset for both Poland and the wider region.
(ał)
Source: PAP, IAR